NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Infection with Chlamydia trachomatis is associated with persistent infection with oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV), according to a report in the August International Journal of Cancer.

"The finding further emphasizes that control of chlamydial infections should be a priority for women's health," Dr. Joakim Dillner from Lund University, Malmo, Sweden told Reuters Health.

Dr. Dillner and associates investigated whether C. trachomatis infection is a risk factor for HPV persistence in a group of 12,527 women participating in an HPV screening trial.

More than two-fifths of the women (42.6%) were persistently positive for the same HPV type, the authors report, and another 5% of women had a change of HPV type during surveillance.

The only factor associated with increased risk for HPV persistence was a self-reported history of ever having had a C. trachomatis infection, the results indicate.

Regular condom use was associated with a significant protective effective against persistent HPV infection, the researchers note, and an increasing number of life-time sexual partners was the most important risk determinant for C. trachomatis infection.

"What makes some infections persist and eventually develop to cancer has been an enigma," Dr. Dillner said. "The finding that Chlamydia is one of the determinants of HPV persistence is of particular interest as Chlamydia is amenable to prevention and treatment."

"We are planning further cohort studies to gain further knowledge of the temporality of events leading to HPV persistence (that is, the timing of HPV and C. trachomatis infections)," Dr. Dillner added.

Int J Cancer 2005;116:110-115

Copyright © 2005 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters Limited content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters Limited. Reuters Limited shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.